Valved fitting for refrigerating apparatus



VALVED FITTING FOR REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed May 7, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2

l1 23 6 .419 if D D D D f 1| I I mentou Patented July 24, 1928.

UNITED STATES 1,678,147 PATENT OFFICE.

JESSE G. AND HARRY B. HULL, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ABSIGNOBB, BY 1mm ASSIGIT- MENTS, TO FRIGIDAIRE CORPORATION, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

VALVE!) FITTING FOR REFRIGEBATING APPARATUS.

' Original application filed May 7, 1923, Serial No. 631,186. Divided and this application filed Iuly 80,

1927. Serial No. 209,587.

application It is also an object to provide improved.

means for shutting off communication between various parts of the system so that such part; may be separated and replaced without loss of refrigerant.

More specifically it is an object to provide an improved fitting or coupling for connecting the various parts of the system, which coupling contains an improved shutolf valve and permits the disconnection of the various parts of the system. I

It is a further object of the invention to provide a valve which may be readily oper-' ated and which is proof against refrigerant leaking out of or air leaking into, the system.

Further objects and advantages of the resent invention will be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing; wherein a preferred form of, the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a refrigerating system embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged cross-section of one form of coupling containing a refrigerant shut-off valve;

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of a refrigerant control valve Fig. 4 is a cross-section of another form of coupling having a refrigerant shut-off valve, and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a condenser.

Referring to the drawing, the system includes an evaporator or coolin element 10 which is supplied with liqui refrigerant and from which gaseous refrigerantis withdrawn by a refrigerating unitincluding a com ressor 11, a condenser 12, and a mqtor 13 is driving the compressor. The particular form of the evaporator, compressor and condenser and their accompanying controls form no art of the present invention, and any suita 10 devices of this character known in the art may be employed. The evaplgrator is described in detail in Jesse Gr. ings application, Serial No. 642,366, filed May 30, 1923, and the devices constituting the refrigerating unit are more fully described in our previous application is withdrawn by the compressor through the pipe 15, compressed, and delivered to the condenser 12 through the conduit 17, is liquefied in the condenser and returned to the evaporator through the liquid supply pipe 16. r In order to control the flow of liquid refrigerant from the condenser to the eve orator, I provide the refrigerant control valve shown in Fig. 3, placed at any suitable point in the liquid supply conduit 16. The valve includes a casing 20 having an inlet 21 connected to the condenser, and an outlet 22 connected to the evaporator. A screw plug 23 forms one end of the casing and has sealed to it one end of a metal bellows 24., the other end of which is sealed to, and carries a valve member 25 which controls the outlet 22. The screw plug 23 is formed a with a sleeve 26 which acts as a guide for the valve stem 27 and also as a guide for the adjusting spring 28. The spring is adjusted and held againstthevalve stem by a small screw plug 29 threaded into the outer end of the sleeve. The s ace within the metal bellows is partly ed with a volatile liquid such as methyl chloride, which is sealed within the bellows bythe screw plug 29. v

The control valve operates as follows: The valve 25 is normally seated, closing the outlet 22 and preventing assage of refrigerant, which collects in t e space between the bellows 24 and casing 20.. As the comthe valve, and hence the amount of liquid which can pass the valve.

In order to permit the system to be readily disconnected without loss of refrigerant we place at suitable points in the connecting pipes couplings containing shut-elf valves. As is shown by way of example in the drawings, the evaporator is connected to the system through a coupling'30, which contains a shut-oil valve between the vapor line 15 and the intake of the compressor, and the condenser is connected to the compressor through a coupling 50 which'also contains a shut-oil valve. Such couplings may be placed wherever desired in the system.

As shown in Fig. 2 the coupling 30 includes a casing 31 and a valve chamber '32 which has an inlet 33 and an outlet 34. The casing is provided with a suitable surface 35 which may be attached to the cylinder block 36 of the compressor in any'desired manner. Opposite the inlet the casing has" an extension 37 provided with a bore 38 of smaller diameter than the valve chamber 32 i and threaded as at 39 to receive a valve stem 40. The latter isprovided with an enlarged head forming a valve 41 which may close the inlet 33. Preferably the inlet is in the form of a coupling threaded into the valve chamber as at 42 and provided with threads 43 for connection to the. refrigerant pipe. The valve and valve stem may be re moved from the casing through the opening provided by the removal of the coupling. The valve stem lies entirel within the extension 37 of the casing an is provided at its end with a square portion 44 adapted to receive a wrench for turning the stem. The casing is closed at this end by a screw plug or cap 45 which seals the casing and prevents the escape of any refrigerant which might leak past the threads 39. This capis removed, of course, when it is desired to operate the valve. The shoulder between the bore 38 and the chamber 32 acts as a stop to limit the amount of travel of the valve head away from the inlet 33. If desired, a pressure gauge 46 may be connected to the valve casing by a ipe 47 communicating with the casin at t e opening 48.

A similar type 0 coupling 50 between the condenser and the compressor is shown in Figs. 4 and 5. This includes a casing 51, an inlet 52, and an outlet 53 which may supply a plurality of condenser connections 54 and 55. The casing includes a valve chamber 56 open at one end and threaded at 57 to receive a valve stem 58 carrying a valve 59 adapted to close the outlet 53. The valve stem is removable through the 0 en end of the casing which may be closed, w en the valve is not being operated, by a screw cap 60. The valve stem is provided with a slot 61 adapted to receive a screw driver for operating the valve. A pressure gauge 62 may be connected to the valve chamber through opening 63.

In assembling the above described ap paratus to form a refrigerating system, the couplings containing the shut-oil valves are placed at points wherever it is anticipated that disconnection will be necessary. Sup- ,pose for example in the system described above it should be desired to replace the compressor. All that is necessary 15 for the shut-off valves contained in the couplings 30 and 50 to be closed and these couplings disconnected from the compressor. All refrigerant contained in the remainder of the system is thus prevented from escaping and the compressor may be removed and replaced without the necessity of first removing the refri erant from the system.

While the orm of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed, constitutes a preferred form, it is to'be understood that other forms might be adopted, all coming within-the scope of the claims which follow. What is claimed is as follows:

1. A fitting for connecting an evaporator into the refrigerant circuit of a refrigerat- .in s stem .com risin a valve casin rovided with a valve chamber and with inlet and outlet passageways communicating with said valve chamber, and a valve structure entirely enclosed within said valve casing for opening or closing one of said passageways.

2. A fitting for connecting an evaporator into the refrigerant circuit of a refrigerating system, comprising a valve casing provided with a valve chamber and with inlet and outlet passageways communicating with said valve chamber, and a manually adjustable valve structure entirely enclosed within said valve casing for opening or closing one of said passageways.

3. A fitting for connecting an evaporator into the refrigerant circuit of a'refrigerat ing system, comprising avalve casingprovided with a valve chamber and with inlet and outlet passageways communicating with said valve chamber, an adjustable valve structure in said chamber entirely enclosed by said casing for opening and closing one of said passageways, said casing bein provided with an opening in the wall t erect through which said valve may be inserted and removed, and a closure member for said opening and which is removably secured to said casing.

4. A fitting for connecting an evaporator into the refrigerant circuit of a refrigerating system, comprising a valve casing provided with a valve chamber and with inlet and outlet passageways communicating with said valve chamber, a valve structure supported within said chamber and entirely enclosed by said valve casing, said valve structure having a screw threaded engagement with said valve casing to permit the manual adjustmentof said valve, said casing provided with an opening in the wall thereof through which said valve may be inserted and removed and through which access may be had to said valve for adjusting the same, and a closure member for said opening removably secured to said casing.

5. A fitting for connecting the refrigerant lines to an evaporator of arefrigerating apparatus, comprising a valve casing provided with a valve chamber and with inlet and outlet passageways communicating with said valve chamber, a valve supported within said chamber and enclosed by said valve casing, said valve having a screw threaded engagement with said valve casing to permit the manual adjustment of said valve, and means for limiting the opening movement of said valve.

6. A fitting for connecting, the refrigerant lines to an evaporator of a refrigerating apparatus, comprising a valve casing provide with a valve chamber and with inlet and outlet passageways, and a valve structure enclosed within said valve casing or opening or closing one of said passageways, said casing being constructed to permit the securing of connections thereto communicating with said inlet and outlet passageways, one of said connections being arranged to be secured to the evaporator and the other connection being arranged to be secured to one ofthe refrigerant lines.

7. A fitting for refrigerant circuits of a refrigerating system, comprising a valve casing provided with a valve chamber and with inlet and outlet passageways communicating with said valve chamber, and a valve structure entirely enclosed within said valve casing for opening or closing one of said passageways.

8. A fitting for refrigerant circuits of a refrigerating system, comprising a valve casing provided with a valve chamber and with inlet and outlet passageways communicating with said valve chamber, and a manually adjustable valve structure entirely enclosed within said valve casing for opening or closinlet and outlet passageways communicating with said valve chamber, an ad'ustable valve structure in said chamber entlrel enclosed by said casing for opening and c osing one of said passageways, said casing being provided with an opening in the wall thereof through which said valve may be inserted and removed, and a closure member for said opening and which is removably secured to said casing.

10. A fitting for refrigerant circuits of a refrigerating system, comprising a valve casing provided with a valve chamber and with inlet and outlet passageways communicating with said valve chamber,,a valve structure supported within said chamber and entirely enclosed by said valve casing, said valve structure having a screw threaded engagement with said valve casing to permit the manual ad'ustment of said valve, said casing provi ed with an opening in the wall thereof through which said valve may be inserted and removed and through which access may be had to said valve for adjusting the same, and a closure member for said opening removabl-y secured to said casing.

11. A fitting for refrigerant lines of a refrigerating apparatus, comprising a valve 1 casing provided with a valve chamber and with inlet and outlet passageways communicating with said valve chamber, a valve supported within said chamber and enclosed by sai valve casing, said valve having a screw tlii'eaded engagement with said valve casing to permit the manual adjustment of said valve, and means for limiting the opening movement of said valve.

12. A fitting 'for refrigerant lines of a refrigerating apparatus, comprising a valve casing provided with a valve chamber and with inlet and outlet passageways, and a valve structure enclosed within said valve casing for opening or closing one of said passageways, said casing being constructed to permit the securing of connections thereto communicating with said inlet and outlet pas- JESSE G. KING. HARRY B. HULL. 

